Nina Simone's interview for BBCs Hard Talk, 1999 (Complete)
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- Опубліковано 31 лип 2013
- COMPLETE INTERVIEW with Spanish caption. "There's no excuse for the young people not knowing who the heroes and heroines are or were." --Nina Simone
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Honoring Legendary Nina Simone
February 21, 1933 -- April 21, 2003
After 20 years of performing, she became involved in the civil rights movement and the direction of her life shifted once again. Simone's music was highly influential in the fight for equal rights in the US.
In 1964, she changed record distributors, from the American Colpix to the Dutch Philips, which also meant a change in the contents of her recordings. Simone had always included songs in her repertoire that drew upon her Black American origins (such as "Brown Baby" and "Zungo" on Nina at the Village Gate in 1962).
On her debut album for Philips, Nina Simone In Concert (live recording, 1964), Simone for the first time openly addressed the racial inequality that was prevalent in the United States with the song "Mississippi Goddam", her response to the murder of Medgar Evers and the bombing of a church in Birmingham, Alabama that killed four children of African descent.
The song was released as a single, and was boycotted in certain southern states."Old Jim Crow", on the same album, addressed the shameful Jim Crow Laws.
From then on, a civil rights message was standard in Simone's recording repertoire, becoming a part of her live performances. Simone performed and spoke at many civil rights meetings, such as at the Selma to Montgomery marches.
Simone advocated violent revolution during the civil rights period, rather than Martin Luther King's non-violent approach,and she hoped that Black Americans could, by armed combat, form a separate state. Nevertheless, she wrote in her autobiography that she and her family regarded all races as equal.
Simone moved from Philips to RCA Victor during 1967. She sang "Backlash Blues", written by her friend Langston Hughes on her first RCA album, Nina Simone Sings The Blues (1967). On Silk & Soul (1967), she recorded Billy Taylor's "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free" and "Turning Point". The album Nuff Said (1968) contains live recordings from the Westbury Music Fair, April 7, 1968, three days after the murder of Martin Luther King, Jr. She dedicated the whole performance to him and sang "Why? (The King Of Love Is Dead)", a song written by her bass player, Gene Taylor, directly after the news of King's death had reached them. In the summer of 1969 she performed at the Harlem Cultural Festival in Harlem's Mount Morris Park.
Together with Weldon Irvine, Simone turned the late Lorraine Hansberry's unfinished play To Be Young, Gifted, and Black into a civil rights song. Hansberry had been a personal friend whom Simone credited with cultivating her social and political consciousness. She performed the song live on the album Black Gold (1970).
In 1993, Simone settled near Aix-en-Provence in Southern France. She had suffered from breast cancer for several years before she died in her sleep at her home in Carry-le-Rouet, Bouches-du-Rhône on April 21, 2003. Simone's ashes were scattered in several African countries. She left behind a daughter, Lisa Celeste Stroud, an actress and singer, who took the stage name Simone.
Musicians who have cited Simone as important for their own musical upbringing include Van Morrison, Bono, Cat Stevens, Peter Gabriel, Lauryn Hill and Jeff Buckley to name a few. Musicians who have covered her work (or her specific renditions of songs) include Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, David Bowie, John Lennon and Jeff Buckley.
Simone received two honorary degrees in music and humanities, from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Malcolm X College. She preferred to be called "Dr. Nina Simone" after these honors were bestowed upon her. Only two days before her death, Simone was awarded an honorary degree by the Curtis Institute, the music school that had refused to admit her as a student at the beginning of her career. Simone was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2010, Tryon, North Carolina erected a statue in her honor along Trade Street.
"Slavery has never been abolished from America's way of thinking." --Nina Simone
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She is GOLD!! She had amazing talent, honesty, and passion. She also had the courage of her convictions. There will never be another Nina Simone!
This woman was the real thing. A true genius, everything about her is inspiring.
Whoever wrote disparaging remarks regarding her speech or behavior in this video is DAFT. Ms. SImone's intellect, pronunciation, recall and witty repertoire is flawless. I am thrilled to watch and listen to her.
Awesome comment Sharen. Thank God someone has sense who viewed this.
Joe Schmoe Thank you I only hope during my lifetime and vocation as a public speaker I affect one person to remember my words after I have exhaled my last breath.
Sharen Sierra she was a warrior for the downtrodden.
Thank you for speaking up Sharen! I haven't finished watching Nina's interview yet but as I am listening to her speak, I'm noticing her slurred diction, and I wondered what happened to Nina over the years?!! Well... Life happens! But how anyone can sit here and make cruel and mean spirited remarks about Nina's health is lower than dirt!! SMH.
@Sharen Sierra....In some ways we still see that wit and intellect shining through, but if you'd seen her prior to this medicated version of herself, there is a fire and passion that is palpable beyond anyone you've ever seen...She was a unique and extraordinary artist who fought like a beast against all odd, but I can see how someone who'd seen her years ago might be disappointed here. Just my two cents. ;)
I love the way she speaks so intelligent and confident so sure of herself. Even at that age her memory was still great. She was so candid she didn't sugar coat anything... Spoke her mind didn't bite her tongue at all I love her she and Whitney Houston are my idols
She had bipolar she couldn't hold her tongue or control her personality
I love this woman. I want to be this passionate about my craft.
Writing
Lenora Gray I'm an fine arts student and an amateur musician. The best way, I found, to be this passionate about your craft is to isolate yourself from the world sometimes. Also, find the purpose in your and of your work. I hope this helps. :)
she has a confidence that nobody today truly has.
What an absolutely fabulous woman!!! A woman of substance, indeed....The late and utterly GREAT, Dr Nina Simone lives on......my gratitude for posting...Love this👏👏👏👏
She was Nine Simone and could say anything she wanted! !!!! I respect every word from her!!!
I am completely obsessed. I love this woman !
she was so down to earth but also so wise at the same time.
LOVE THIS INTERVIEW!! She was REAL all the time. Her mood, her dialog, her persona! The great Nina Simone, nobody like her.
She had bipolar, most people don't like people with mental health conditions
OMG...she was a fireball. I love her honesty and plain talk in an intelligent way.
She was ahead of her time, she knew that it would be possible to have a black president in the U.S. she was completely correct.
And she firmly responded to the host with great confidences. Love it.
Obama was merely a "black" president, doing nothing to improve the lot of black people or poor people in general.
MisAnnThorpe IDIOT
I agree, in his policies he did not always necessarily deliver... I still think its a powerful accomplishment of representation for young children to see that it was possible to have a black president in the US.
A black president who made no REAL difference (for the better), to the lives of the masses of black and white people. Knowing that, what does it matter the colour of the president? The message it should send, is that there's a tiny chance you might become the president of the U.S.A. providing you don't upset the status quo. It was nothing more than a token gesture. America is just as dangerously racially divided as it was prior to his presidency.
My love for her has grown even bigger. i LOVE YOU NINA!
nothing bad to say about my black queen Nina dont fix your mouth to say anything bad against a women that gave her life an career for us
African Royalty
Amazing woman!
I find FANTASTIC what she says at the end of the interview:" I refuse to cook and I refuse to clean"!!!BRAVISSIMA!!!!!!!!!COOL COOL COOL!SUPER BRAVA!
What an incredible women.... I absolutely love her quirkiness.
A shining star......x
+Bambilicous c *woman (singular)
Towering figure. More spirit, strength than 10,000 men with an IQ to match.
She had bipolar, it was a false strength, she was weak, I have bipolar, I know what I'm talking about, when she was high in mood she appeared to be strong, in reality no she wasn't, chemicals in the brain
I have ALWAYS loved and admired Ms. Simone. She will always be the most beautiful woman in the 🌎 world!!
I always felt the spirit of Harriet Tubman in Nina. As a musician, her voice was very noted however her piano playing was also exceptional and unique.
I love the way she speaks. Even her speech is musical. 'Racism is the fabric of America'. Love it, absolutely Love it.
Nina was a BLACK MARXISR INDOCTRINATED WITH JEW
Thank you Dr. Nina Simone for your teachings
Loved this! Nina's a straight-shooter, much respect.
Much Respect...
+Amy Merriweather. That's one of the reasons why I love Nina Simone .
she was brilliant.
i fell in love with her all over again after watching this interview
Beautiful Lady...
truly underappreciated.
She is beautiful!
Vasif Qarayev I like how they made her look in the Jay-Z video.
@@futureworldx9730 sooo immature!
She looked like her origins, a true, beautiful, AFRICAN QUEEN.
Her medication affected her voice over time (which they told her would happen ahead of time) but it couldn't TOUCH those fingers!!! Her dexterity is at 100%!!! I can't keep mine at 100 and I ain't on nothing!!!
Awesome I am just beyond speech or words or reality this human being is next to god! this will be timeless!!!! just incredible
An American Hero....she kept/keeps music alive...
Hello. I would also say an international hero...
I adore her and her strenght! She indeed was a beautiful woman!
The wonderful Nina Simone. Great to read all the lovely comments too. She should be very proud of herself. Such unlucky and unfair circumstances, yet she never gave up. Just Incredible.
Although at the time of this interview she was months from death, and heavily medicated, I found it wonderful how the ongoing discussion seemed to bring the life back into her. She took a while to get get her motor running but the end was so much different from the beginning. It was great.
From the documentary on her they mention with the medication she was stable and calm, but it also took from her her skills in singing, the piano, and quickness. In the end she was finally sacrificing the music for the people around her rather than the other way around.
If this interview was completed in 1999, she was NOT months from her demise. She died April 21, 2003.
Oh, my mistake. Some reason I was thinking she died in 2000.
From a documentary by her daughter, she seemed to have bi-polar disorder or something like that and it had gone untreated her whole life. But she was wasting away in France towards the end barely able to care for herself so her friends and family came and got her on a medication that made her more stable. But it had some serious side effects, like making it very difficult for her to perform.
Genius....strong talented and articulate ..always working for freedom and fairness...I was luckey to have known her art ...Thank you DR. Simone....RIP!
God bless Nina Simone. Rest in peace now day is done! Read the comments, to live on in the hearts of others is not to die.
Absolute legend!
I LOVE NINA SIMONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for posting this. She was just spectacular.
Thank you for your comment Gabriel. Yes! She was quite a woman. I love the way she speaks in this interview. So much strength. Please subscribe to our channel...more to come ;)
Thank you.
I can see her as a music teacher making superstars!
Nina Nina Nina!!!!
Wow a Legend!
"The volcano last long enough for me to never forget it. I'll tell u that" Nina is a riot hunny lol
Nina Simone, moves me and touches me.I'm not a person of colour, but I always believe that music is best, not politicised. A gift from on high. Not a tool of division, but I never lived Ms Simone's, life. Somebody worthy of being star-struck by. One of the greats. She blows me away. Having character, is no crime. We need more.
It was bipolar
The first minute or so watching this I felt a little awkward because Nina looked and sounded medicated - and I cared for this beautiful baby- , but I neednt have worried. An indomitable spirit and genius, Nina was without artifice to the very end. Shame she and Lou Reed never collaborated, I see a kindred spirit in both.
legend
Wow I wish I was into Nina when she was here..She was a warrior for her people....I love NI'na...I love all of your songs....
RIP MAMA...I love you
You are absolutely right. So talented indeed. Thank you for your comment ;)
Thank you
I like her version of Here Comes The Sun ;) Brilliant
Isn't it! Pure Goolld. I can only listen to it once in a while. So awesomely pure and thought-provoking. Nina Simone created the atmosphere, theme, setting, emotion... for EACH and EVERY creation and recreation she CRAFTED. This masterpiece makes me hope that THIS ONE is JUST for little Lisa Celeste Stroud, who even today has that baby-faced yearning for her "Momm"💞
Oh yes, totally agree there. I heard it the first time in some movie starring Bridget Fonda. Can't remember the name right now though.
keithchanner Good choice! Beautiful!
Joe Schmoe I don't know the Bridget Fonda version, but it was a remake of La Femme Nikita. Hope that helps.
Wow! Impressive and lovable woman!
I don't mean this as a negative, more as just an observation of her culturally varied life, but her accent is all over the place, mostly eloquent, but if she gets "hot" you can hear the south coming out more. Just interesting, i enjoy the way people talk. Shes an amazing person and artist, i'm glad i found her recently.
Dios!! muchas gracias por subir esta entrevista, Nina que valiosa y maravillosa mujer, no solo su música es adorable, ella es de esos seres únicos e irrepetibles...Nina por siempre!!!
Beautiful lady. Love Nina Simone for decades
We LOVE YOU NINA 😍 I L💚VE EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU SISTER ✌👍 A STRONG CHARACTER, CHARISMA , VOICE ... ALWAYS TRUFULL TO YOURSELF ALWAYS STAND FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE ✌✊👊 " BLM" AND AFRICA ✌✌
Amazing woman.
She was highly intelligent. She was extremely vocal. Amazingly gifted in her art. She used that gift well. A beautiful woman.
GREAT MUSICIAN, GREAT WOMAN!
yes. this is soooooooooooooooo beatiful
Amazing!!!!!!
Nina does not hold back!! Go head girl!
That's bipolar for you
She certainly put the record straight. Haar ervaring, haar standpunt, haar muziek.
un ejemplo paratod@s,
una persona que no se dejo pisar
People saying she was high she was bi polar and wasn't diagnosed with it until later in her life and was given heavy medication for it and it affected her like slurred speech singing and her piano playing
I am a star and a woman. We love you Nina!
RIP and Thank you.
I just love her... Period.
Me too, I never seen any one so magical in her words, mind body and soul, just plain brilliant.medication makes your speech and reflexes slow.
Ms. Simone will always have a special place in my heart ❤️
"I need a cigarette. You making me hot."
I agree Lenora. I grew up with her music in Germany. I'm not a musician but she has been a constant inspiration for me...
I love her. She is amazing.
Stunning interview, her candor and fearlessness is refreshingly beautiful and heartwarming. She made me burst into laughter so many times.. 7:57 "I need a cigarette".. and when asked if at a business meeting she once pulled out a knife, doesn't flinch for a second.. "I sure DAMN did".. (corrects the interviewer about her choice of weapon) "it was a GUN it wasn't a knife.. I followed him to a restaurant and I tried to KILL him.. sorry I didn't GET him." She's SORRY she MISSED :) Bless her amazing sweet n' fierce soul.
She had bipolar, the things she did were not funny as they were a result of a mental health condition
The single most important Woman in the history of music with out question without doubt
Keep spreading the word folks. Top of the tops, Nina is a real super character and earned the legend title again and again : )
She had bipolar, it was smoke and mirrors to do with chemicals in her brain, I have it too
What an extraordinary soul
Gracias por este documento. La pureza del ser humano plasmado en el arte de una mujer única. Que gran generación que ya nos dejan poco a poco, casi no nos quedan, solo dejan tras si una vida llena de belleza para la posteridad, y sufrimientos para entender este mundo, tan cruel que creamos día a día.
who would've thought she disliked billie holiday
lee shafer I know this is 3 years later, but I don't think she appreciated Billie Holiday's vulnerability.
Rite! lol & she said it so emphatically.
Por siempre Nina ❤🤲🏾
Fue una mujer que sufrió mucho , pero que vivió con mucha pasión su vida , un ejemplo de lucha y convicción por SER en el mundo.
Brilliant
DAHLING!!! I love it!!
Muy interesante!!! Me gustó su personalidad... Su música es bellísima, sin duda...
Awe , respect and love ....
I love you Nina!!
".....anger .....noo i sing from intellegence !"
Dropped d mic 🎤
Una mujer, militante y música extraordinaria. Dios te bendiga Nina Simone.
Wow!
Impresionante documento con la más grande
This is gold wtf. Literally... Why have I not seen this y
fabulosa
She was a really good and inspiring singer
The Lioness !
No doubt Miss Simone !
LEGEND 👏👏👏
When she smiles ooh my God ....heart warming
Now that's power.
respect !!
The Goddess!!! I have no artistic talent what so ever... Yet, I feel like her&I are kindred spirits. ... our souls talk
kiitos
An iconic figure of not only the African race but of the entire human race alongside fellow luminaries Mandela, Luther King, Malcolm X, Che Guevara, Ho Chi Minh and others. Rest in power our beloved Queen.
mujer maravillosa
She was an amazing woman who does not get the credit she deserved.